future of learning

Personalized Learning

Freecomonics in Education

Free stuff on the web is changing everything. The new ways we communicate with each other and the resources available are amazing. Can you imagine life without Google Maps? However, it often makes MBAs (like me) scratch their head wondering, “who pays for this?” Following the release…

Personalized Learning

Jobs: east coast principals, west coast biz dev

Revolution portfolio companies adding positions: 1. Director of Market Development for edu-web 2.0 Bay Area start up Company Description: Founded by key talent from leading social networking, digital content, and education management organizations, this new Bay Area company is developing…

Personalized Learning

Better organized free stuff

It’s quite phenomenal how many edu-blogs, tweeters, sites, and networks are emerging. Just a few years ago we had to rely on our weekly fix from EdWeek and now our inboxes and twitter boxes are full of news and views—a storm of info. Perhaps next gen tools like…

Personalized Learning

Innovating or incrementing?

The NYTimes asks Can governments till the fields of innovation? The story profiles John Kao who recently launched The Institute for Large Scale Innovation (ILSI) founded to address three key questions: · How can innovation be fostered most effectively at a societal level (country,…

Personalized Learning

Encouraging results from Early College initiative

In 2002, a phone call from Leon Botstein, President of Bard College, and a bus ride with Cece Cunningham, a Ford funded Middle College consortium, lead to the creation of a $100M national Early College initiative.  After assembling about 8 partners ranging from community colleges to charter networks, the goal…

Personalized Learning

The need for edu-innovation

The US won’t spend or reform its way to high and equitable educational attainment.  The basic model of age cohorts slogging through print-based content with ability tracking (with equates to race and income tracking) is obsolete, expensive and unjust.  Young people in emerging and developing economies (which…

Personalized Learning

Bill Gates: beginning of tech revolution

“Technology can pull the United States out of recession and help the world’s ailing financial markets work better, Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) Chairman Bill Gates told a high-level business summit at the company he co-founded” reports Reuters.  “The drug companies will get back in high productivity mode.

Personalized Learning

Where is EdTech making a difference?

A friend asked me where EdTech is making a difference for kids, especially low income kids.  Here’s my quick list.  I’d love to hear more examples.  1. AdvancePath.com runs 9 blended drop out prevention centers, 8 in CA, with good results serving under credited kids.  Decidedly first gen; they use…

Personalized Learning

iTunes U is getting useful for higher/continuing edu

I love my iPod, I toggle between Patty Griffin and Physics. Maybe you received the iTunes U email today featuring engineering courses (or maybe it’s just the podcasts that I subscribe to); just some of the courses: • Stanford: iPhone applications • Open U: Design & Creativity…

Personalized Learning

Don't lock the doors to virtual schools

Read the following important post from Patrick Donaldson about limitations being proposed on online learning in Oregon.  Similar efforts to limit opportunity by placing enrollment caps or geographic boundaries around online learning are underway across the country.  These barriers will slow the development of a new generation of flexible options…